Woman, 20 at the time, says she was raped after being given alcohol and drugs; lawsuit names 7 students

Cornell University in New York state. [Yonhap]
Cornell University in New York state. [Yonhap]

Prosecutors in New York have referred an alleged gang rape at an Ivy League fraternity house to a grand jury, reopening a criminal investigation into the case. A female student has filed a civil lawsuit against seven male students over the alleged assault at Cornell University, and a Korean student is among those named as defendants.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced Monday that he would present evidence against the seven students to a grand jury to determine whether formal charges should be filed, according to Reuters and the Associated Press.

The case centers on a Cornell student who was 20 at the time and says she was gang-raped over roughly two hours during a fraternity party in 2024. She said fraternity members gave her ketamine and other drugs along with alcohol, leaving her incapacitated.

In the lawsuit she filed on Sept. 16, she said she was completely unable to move when the assault occurred, having been given alcohol and drugs by fraternity members.

The names of the accused have been made public on social media and in Cornell's student newspaper. One Korean student surnamed Lee is included on the list.

Court documents filed by the victim include screenshots of messages from a Snapchat group chat in which fraternity members allegedly encouraged other students to participate in the assault, along with detailed written accounts of what occurred.

The victim reported the incident to campus police three weeks after it occurred, but prosecutors at the time declined to bring formal charges. The university said it had conducted its own investigation and imposed disciplinary measures — including expulsion and suspension — on some students, but did not disclose specifics.

Van Houten said the initial statement the victim submitted shortly after the incident did not include allegations of gang rape or drug administration, which he offered as an explanation for why charges were not filed at the time.

The case was reignited when the victim filed a civil damages lawsuit on Sept. 16, and as the controversy grew, Cornell banned the fraternity from all campus activities.

Cornell said in a statement that claims it had failed to impose meaningful punishment were untrue, and that it would strengthen its systems for responding to sexual violence.

Prosecutors said they reviewed the case file after the victim filed her civil suit and will now pursue formal criminal charges through the grand jury process.

Unlike a trial jury, which determines guilt or innocence, a grand jury in the United States evaluates whether the evidence prosecutors present is sufficient to justify a formal indictment.


yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com